Moldovan President Maia Sandu is on track to win re-election following a runoff election on Sunday, amid widespread allegations that Moscow has been working to influence the vote against her.
According to near-final figures published by Moldova’s Central Election Commission, pro-Western former World Bank economist Sandu looks almost certain be reelected with around 53.52 percent of the vote in the second-round, putting her ahead of rival Alexandr Stoianoglo, who drew around 46.48 percent. More than 97 percent of votes have been counted, according to the official results website.
Stoianoglo, a former prosecutor from the pro-Russian Socialist Party, sought to portray himself as a candidate of unity who would not to oppose European integration while also rebuilding relations with Moscow.
Sandu failed to win an outright majority in the first round of the presidential election two weeks ago, and a simultaneous referendum on including EU membership into the constitution was passed by a razor-thin margin.
Authorities have accused the Kremlin of meddling in the election, paying millions of dollars to ordinary people and orchestrating a campaign of propaganda and disinformation designed to undermine the country’s EU candidacy.
Those voting from abroad, including in Europe and the U.S., swung the referendum in favor of the pro-EU side.
In a statement on X issued while polling stations were still open on Sunday, Sandu’s national security adviser, Stanislav Secrieru, said “massive interference” had been detected at overseas polling stations, with charter flights laid on to take Moldovans living in Russia to cast ballots in nearby countries like Belarus, Turkey and Azerbaijan.
to undermine the country’s EU candidacy. Ultimately, those voting from abroad, including in Europe and the U.S., swung the referendum in favor of the pro-EU side.
However, in a statement issued while polling stations were still open on Sunday, Sandu’s national security adviser, Stanislav Secrieru, said “massive interference” had been detected at overseas polling stations, with charter flights laid on to take Moldovans living in Russia to cast ballots in nearby countries like Belarus, Turkey and Azerbaijan.
